The model of the Master Class is an intensive, incubator-like full-time studio program for the highly motivated and gifted student, under the tutelage of Israel Hershberg. It is not only guided by focused, probing instruction and critique grounded in the creative process – in learning for the eye and the hand – it aims to foster the tenacity and independence necessary to work through the diverse complexities artistic endeavors surely require. Work in the Master Class is pursued via the immediacy of experience, through continual practice, engagement with great masterworks and hard, uncompromising work. In the Master Class, it is the doing that produces understanding.

The JSS in Civita plunges the model of the former Jerusalem Studio School Master Class into the sensual root and sap of the western world’s artistic heart. Italy’s art, landscape, architecture, artifacts and light converge into an integrated comprehensive experience of art and life that exists nowhere else. The sheer quality and quantity of it dwarfs all that comprises the Western world’s museums combined. This program nourishes a lifetime.

The JSS in Civita Master Class should not be confused with the ever more ubiquitous plein-air workshops. The Master Class is rugged – student output is inquiry based and intensive. Faculty input is challenging, delving into weighty considerations of pictorial language as well as frequent direct challenges to one’s existing ideas and approaches to painting and practice. Faculty give on-site individual critique and group critiques usually twice a week, with an all-day final crit at the end of the 6-week session. Students work on their own in great part and are encouraged to be ambitious in setting out on a days’ work. The impact of the Master Class is cumulative in terms of the learning curve. For this reason, we urge those who desire an optimal experience – one that will sustain them – to enroll for the full 6-week session. If this is not possible, we suggest 4 weeks. The minimum stay with the Master Class is 2 weeks. For a more fundamentally supervised and shorter-term experience we suggest choosing one of our excellent Affiliate Faculty courses.

JSS in Civita Master Class Guest of Honor for summer 2017 will be Susan Jane Walp. Susan will be our instructor-in-residence July 10th – 31st. Yedidya Hershberg and Yael Scalia will assist with Master Class instruction. The full session Master Class runs from July 10 – August 21, 2017, and will offer a knock-out line-up of excursions: the Piero della Francesca Trail of Arezzo, San Sepolcro & Urbino, Siena, Naples, Rome, Florence, Assisi and Bologna.

Master Class student painting in the shade of the Porta Borgiana, Civita Castellana

The Master Class is not just a landscape painting program. Studio spaces for still life and figure work as well as for painting after daylight hours are available at our centrally located J.B.C. Corot Studios in the main Piazza Matteotti, the Carcerette Studios & Studio Classroom and the Claude Lorrain Studio & Studio Classroom in the Piazza dei Martiri. All are in the historic center of Civita Castellana and available for reservation.

Scheduled real time and on-site instruction and critique, regular group critiques, the weekly artist talks, excursions to Italy’s great art treasuries, communal dinners and daily after-hours gatherings of the wider JSS in Civita community of artists in studios, the piazza, restaurants and cafes, ensures a constant dynamic exchange of artistic ideas and practice.

Master Class Schedule:

Students in the Master Class are expected to demonstrate commitment and an independent work ethic during their time in the program whether out in the landscape or in one of the various studio spaces, painting subjects of their choosing. Master Class faculty will be making rounds four mornings a week with at least two weekly mid-day critiques. After dinner meetings with the Master Class faculty or Affiliate Group teachers will include weekly scheduled lectures, informal slide talks and presentations.

Weekends: Students are free to relax, paint or travel. The Reception at the Relais Falisco is happy to provide you with information on planning excursions to other cities, such as Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto, Spoleto, and Venice.

To view more works by JSS in Civita Master Class Students, click here.